Candidate qualifies by petition to run for Miami Beach mayor

Miami
Beach mayoral candidate Philip Levine has qualified to run for
office by way of voter petition.

Levine -- a wealthy, self-made business man --
collected almost 1,500 certified petitions to earn a spot on the ballot. Most
candidates simply pay a $1,300 qualifying fee to run for mayor.

The mayor's race in Miami Beach is wide open this year, with current
Mayor Matti Herrera Bower term-limited.

Levine is running for the $10,000-a-year
position, along with current Commissioner Michael Góngora and
entertainer Steve Berke.

Berke, who wants to make a documentary based
on Miami Beach politics, has
accused Levine of trying to buy the election. Levine has loaned himself
$410,000 for his campaign, according to his most recent financial reports.

"Opponents' claims of Levine attempting
to buy this election have now been proven to be false. The voter
signatures were collected without the use of paid workers. In fact,
Levine personally collected over 85% of the signatures himself," the
release said.

The qualifying period in Miami Beach doesn't start until Sept. 3 and lasts through Sept. 6.